The sharpest curves

[railfan99]

Back in 2015, and previously, there was discussion about this but no settled answer.

I assume UK has a curves and gradients book or these days various online pages to which staff refer.

What is the sharpest curve on a (a) main line regularly used by scheduled passenger trains and (b) branch line in (c) England (d) Scotland or (e) Wales.

What speed limit applies round each?

 

[Western Sunset]

Two lines (historically) spring to mind:
Passenger - the Weymouth Quay branch
Freight - the Gotham Curve on the Cromford & High Peak

Not sure about the present-day scene though.

 

[Ken H]

Isnt the Bradford - Bingley platform line at Shipley one of the tightest?

 

[sjm77]

What about the South side of High Level Bridge in Gateshead? Or between Coombe Jan and Liskeard

 

[aliceh]

The sharpest one I can think of is between Southampton Tunnel and Northam, but I suspect that pales in comparison to others

 

[32475]

The one that springs to mind for me is at Dinting on the curve round towards Glossop.

 

[Mike99]

How about the curve into Accrington Station heading towards Blackburn and obviously the other direction.

 

[Peter0124]

My suggestions for Scotland would be Rutherglen, Edinburgh end of Carstairs triangle and the buffer end of Gourock Platform 1 and 2.

Challenge me if I'm wrong.

 

[Ploughman]

Leeds - Harrogate line, Crimple Curve sub 200m radius.

 

[Llanigraham]

The curve coming off the Vale of Glamorgan line at Barry Town station on to and then continuing along the Barry Island branch?
Flange squeal can be very bad if the flange greasers aren't working properly.

 

[jamesst]

The Liverpool Loop must be in with a shout, line speed 30mph.

 

[DoubleO]

Crimple Curve is 20mph and approached on a rising gradient from Leeds. When I learned it I was advised to slow to 15mph and power gently through the curve as the check rail could 'pinch' the wheel flange and slow the train down. No idea if it was an old wive's tale but it's certainly a very tight curve.

 

[BoroAndy]

What about Seamer west junction going towards Filey, the 142s squealed and screamed on that bend.

 

[Metal_gee_man]

The curve at Dover Harbour on the Dover to Folkestone line, trains crawl through at 15mph it's made easier with them being 20m long coaches but 12 car 375s or 395s certainly squeal through there

 

[class26]

Firsby on the Boston - Skegness line

 

[Metal_gee_man]

Firsby on the Boston - Skegness line

Yeah good shout that's almost at walking pace its that slow

 

[class26]

Yeah good shout that's almost at walking pace its that slow

Reckon it`s 25 mph ?

 

[sjm77]

From memory Firsby is 15mph I think.

 

[ricoblade]

The curve from Retford high level down to the Worksop line is pretty sharp, made the Pacer I was on last time I experienced it squeal!

 

[[email protected].]

Yeah good shout that's almost at walking pace its that slow

More like a right-hand turn.

 

[najaB]

The curve from Retford high level down to the Worksop line is pretty sharp, made the Pacer I was on last time I experienced it squeal!

Speaking of which, the curve from the WCML to Lockstock Hall and onwards to Preston is pretty sharp, maybe not the sharpest but pretty long and noisy on a Pacer!

 

[Basil Jet]

From memory Firsby is 15mph I think.

I just watched a cab ride of it and it said 25 eastbound. Westbound is a tighter curve so might be slower.

 

[frodshamfella]

How about the curve at Newton le Willows that connects line from Warrington to Liverpool line ?

 

[snowball]

How about the curve at Newton le Willows that connects line from Warrington to Liverpool line ?

I think you mean at Earlestown station. The south-to-east and south-to-west curves there are both extremely tight, with the former being perhaps a bit tighter, to judge from the OS 1:25k map.

 

[matchmaker]

Cowlairs East and West chords? Both have a 15mph limit.

 

[01d-and]

The lines through platforms 3 & 4 at Barnt Green on the branch to Redditch have always made a din.

 

[Verulamius]

Thameslink from Blackfriars towards London Bridge?

 

[Peter0124]

Also how about Crosshill on the Cathcart Circle? Especially the Platform 1 direction.

 

[M&NEJ]

The curve between Carnforth station and the ex- Furness & Midland route (to Wennington and Skipton) is long and sharp. I don't know the speed limit but it was certainly a "squealer" when pacers provided the service.

 

[Elecman]

The lines through platforms 3 & 4 at Barnt Green on the branch to Redditch have always made a din.

Used to have a pumped water lubrication system but long term out of use